Benbow, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built near Oak Ridge in northwestern Guilford County, the Charles Benbow House is a two-story, three-bay brick dwelling with a one-story wing, laid in Flemish bond and set on a farm that once covered 148 acres. Benbow, a Quaker, had it erected around 1814 or shortly after, drawing on land inherited through his wife's family. Its interior follows a Quaker plan, and its parlor carries Greek Revival doorway surrounds and a Federal mantel, while the rest of the house combines Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival detailing in a way the nomination regards as unusually inventive for the county. Benbow was also a partner in Benbow and Co., which ran the Cross Creek Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill in Fayetteville, and he was a trustee of New Garden Boarding School. Two of his sons helped found Oak Ridge Institute in 1852. The house is also associated with the North Carolina Manumission Society, of which Benbow was a member.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a highly significant example of Quaker plan brick construction in Guilford County, with an unusually ambitious and individualistic decorative program combining Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival elements. It also links to the Benbow family's role in early textile manufacturing in Fayetteville, the founding of local schools, and the antebellum Quaker abolition movement.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004842, listed August 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Oak Ridge on NC 150, Oak Ridge |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | August 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004842 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Transitional finish incorporating Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival elements; Quaker plan vernacular brick construction |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Surviving with a minimum of alteration; the house is still owned by Benbow descendants and was occupied in the early 1960s; the document describes the farm as declining after John T. Benbow's death. |
| Acreage | 131 |
| Coordinates | 36.16139, -79.98879 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004842.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.